News

Carl lands TV role as evil ‘Gay Slayer’

Published

7 years ago

November 16, 2017

A HAVERFORDWEST man who has, over the last five years, worked as extra in TV programmes – such as ‘Casualty’ and ’Stella’ – has just landed his first lead role in a television docudrama about the ‘Gay Slayer’ serial killer Colin Ireland.

As he coolly told police that he had murdered five gay men – because he had taken the decision to be a serial killer one New Year’s Eve – Colin Ireland gave what he thought was a credible explanation for his campaign of brutality.

The former soldier became known as the ‘Gay Slayer’, reportedly posing as a homosexual to be taken to each of his victims’ homes, where he tortured and murdered them in the summer of 1993.

He also chillingly stayed with several of the bodies over night, possibly taking enjoyment in reliving the violence he had inflicted.

CBS Reality’s ‘Voice of a Serial Killer’ programme, broadcast for the first time this week, focused on the case of the ‘Gay Slayer’.

Carl Sykes, 38, who was brought up on Baring Gould Way, and attended Tasker Milward School, now lives in Risca, Newport, told The Herald that he ’honestly did not want to be an actor’.

“I never have”, he said.

Known back in the day by his school friends as a gentle giant, he is perhaps the last person people who know him in Pembrokeshire would expect to see on the screen portraying an evil murderer.

But the lead role – which he seems to have landed very much by accident – really challenged him, he said.

Carl went on to say: “I love being a supporting artist, and this role was suggested to me by my agent but I wasn’t aware at the time how involved it would be. It was fun to do but quite demanding, especially the lip-syncing with Ireland’s police interview.

“But I’m happy to step back and carry on being that guy you might recognise wandering around in ‘Casualty’ from time to time!”

hen asked what he found most challenging about playing the role of the serial killer he said: “Listening to the recordings of Ireland’s police interviews.

“He is so cold and calculating – he actually read books on serial killers beforehand to see how he could kill and get away with it, whilst at the same time, he tried to put the blame on his victims.

“At one point he says that if one of his victims hadn’t approached him, he’d have probably just gone home and nothing bad would have happened.

Dr David Holmes, a psychologist, tells the Voice of a Serial Killer programme: “He decided one New Year to make a resolution – I am going to be be a serial killer, that’s my new career, and set about it.

“It’s fairly complex as to whether Ireland was gay himself, which he protests he isn’t, and this was some kind of smokescreen … his way of engaging gay men then clearing his conscience.”

Dr Donna Youngs, directors of the International Centre for Investigative Psychology, said Ireland may have been picking up on the ‘vulnerabilities’ of gay men in the 1990s, who felt they had to be covert, and exploited it.

She said he was obsessed with being in control in the way he carried out the murders as well as throughout his police interviews.

She said: “He is proud, he thinks he has managed to achieve dominance and a freedom of expression of what he wanted to do to people in a way that very few others have the nerve to follow through on. He is proud, that’s why we get all the details we do in his confession.”

After confessing to all five murders, Ireland was given a whole-life tariff in 1993.

He died at the age of 57 from natural causes in the healthcare centre of Wakefield Prison in West Yorkshire in 2012.

Charity

Over 1,100 festive bathers enjoy Tenby’s famous Boxing Day Swim

Published

8 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A RECORD-BREAKING number of 1,150 festive bathers have had a splashing time in the Tenby Boxing Day Swim this morning.

The fancy dress theme of Superheroes – in tribute to the RNLI in its 200th anniversary year – saw Batman, The Incredibles, Wonderwoman and a whole crew of emergency services dashing into the chilly water of Tenby’s North Beach.

RNLI mascot Stormy Stan was there amongst the huge crowds to cheer the brave bathers on their way.
The swim will be one to remember forever for one duo of dippers as they got engaged following a surprise proposal on the sand.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Philip Frith, 34, made one of his best-ever moves when he popped the question to his girlfriend, former professional dancer Victoria Tansey, 34, who is originally from Hakin.

Said swim chairman Sam Skyrme-Blackhall: “”Well, we said ‘come to the Tenby Boxing Day Swim and take the plunge’ but we weren’t expecting that! Congratulations to the happy couple”.
The swim has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities and good causes in its 52-year history, and this yeae’s event will see Tenby RNLI as the main beneficiary.

Town mayor Dai Morgan said: ”It’s great to see so many people from here, and for such a good cause. I just love it down on the beach on Boxing Day. The swim is such a fantastic tradition.”
The mayor’s daughter, 18-year-old Erin Morgan, who is Tenby’s town crier, gave a special ‘cry’ to welcome the swim.

Swim chairman Sam supervised 10-year-old Sam Fecci as he fired the swim’s starting pistol – a duty usually carried out by his dad, Stuart, who was not well enough to attend.

Festive tunes and a lively commentary from DJ Steve Briers ramped up the atmosphere on the beach and swimmers emerged from the sea to be presented with commemorative medals and warm up with hot soup donated by the Giltar Hotel and served up by Tenby and District Lions.

‘Taking the plunge’ at a festive swim in Wales this morning meant more than just a dip in the sea for one happy couple.

As hundreds of Boxing Day bathers at the legendary event in Tenby dashed for the water, a magical moment was happening between Victoria Tansey and Philip Frith.
Philip, 34, went down on one knee on the sand and asked Victoria, 37, to marry him.

Fortunately, she said an ecstatic ‘yes’ to the carefully-planned proposal, which saw the couple’s special song Ocean Eyes y Billie Eilish sound out over the beach as the newly-engaged couple celebrated with a splash in the sea.

As a former Royal Marine Philip – who is now a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach – has faced some scary situations in his life but the Boxing Day proposal was up there with the most nail-biting.
“I’ve been so nervous/special moment.

Victoria, originally from Hakin, Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, worked as a professional dancer – appearing on the X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and Pineapple Dance Studio: Survival of the Fittest -and before setting up her own entertainment agency.

Although now living in Guildford with Philip, she has always loved returning to her Pembrokeshire roots

“When we first met, Victoria couldn’t wait to show me all around Pembrokeshire and we have made the trip as often as work would allow us, to visit her family, go beach hopping and take in the breathtaking scenery,” said Philip.

“I absolutely love sea swimming, I believe that it is so worthwhile for your body and mind, however Victoria has never been one to enjoy the cold!

“So, on our first Christmas together as a couple, Victoria surprised me by taking me to Tenby for the Boxing Day Swim – it’s honestly one of my most fond memories from the start of our relationship!

“I wanted to return her the favour of surprising her by proposing to her at this year’s swim.”

Victoria’s mum and her childhood best friend , Sean Griffiths – who she set up Milford Haven’s Unison Dance Group with in 2004 –were on the beach to watch the proposal, with Sean bringing along the engagement ring in his pocket to fellow swimmers crowded round to congratulate Victoria and Philip, and swim chairman Sam Skyrme-Blackhall laughed: “Well, we said ‘come to the Tenby Boxing Day Swim and take the plunge’ but we weren’t expecting that! Congratulations to the happy couple”.

Charity

Letterston dog show raises over £750 for local charities

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ON SUNDAY (Dec 22), Letterston Ring Craft successfully raised £755.55 for two Pembrokeshire-based charities during a fun dog show event. The funds were equally split between South Pembrokeshire Cat Rescue and Letterston Memorial Hall.

The event featured a variety of well-attended classes, including child handling and fancy dress, drawing participation from dog enthusiasts of all levels.

This fundraiser marked the first charitable event supporting South Pembrokeshire Cat Rescue. Founded and managed by Lizzy Austwick, the rescue organisation aids unwanted, feral, and sick cats across Pembrokeshire and responds to urgent cases in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. The rescue provides neutering support for stray and feral cats, directs owners to available resources, and specialises in helping stray cats with severe injuries, raising essential funds for their care.

For assistance, Lizzy can be contacted via the rescue’s Facebook page or at 07575 131443.

Letterston Ring Craft welcomes new members interested in training and showing their dogs, from local companion shows to prestigious events like Crufts. The club meets every other Sunday in Letterston, and further details can be found on their Facebook page.

Looking ahead, the next fun dog show is scheduled for early next year and will support Belle’s Story Charity. For more information or to get involved, contact Gentle Lowe at 07956 653401.

Charity

£3,800 donated to services across Withybush Hospital

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE CAMROSE VINTAGE WORKING DAY team has donated £3,800 to services across Withybush Hospital.

Their 37^th annual event raised a record breaking £25,000, which has now been distributed among 26 local charities.

They donated the funds to the Stroke Ward, Specialist Respiratory Team, Chemo Day Unit and Heads Up! Hair Loss Initiative at Withybush Hospital. Each service received £950.

The Heads Up! initiative provides a person-centred, holistic hair loss service for cancer patients. It brings together healthcare and haircare professionals from local communities to give patients the knowledge and products needed to manage their hair loss with dignity and choice.

Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer, said: “Thank you to Andrew, the team and the supporters of the Camrose Vintage Working Day for your generosity once again. Your donation to each service is amazing and will make a big difference. We are hugely grateful for your wonderful support.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

Pictured above: Andrew James, Chairman of Camrose Vintage Working Day with Withybush Hospital staff from the Stroke Ward, Specialist Respiratory Team, Chemo Day Unit, Heads Up! Hair Loss initiative.